Monday, October 30, 2023

Looking Up by Stephan Pastis - ADVISABLE

Looking Up
by Stephan Pastis
, 228 pages.  Simon and Schuster, 2023. $14 

Language: G (0 swears) Mature Content: G Violence: G 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH 

Saint is a girl facing lots of changes. The neighborhood she loves is disappearing. But it is when her favorite and ancient toy store is demolished, that she realizes she must take action. Enlisting the help of a quiet neighbor boy whose house is also in danger of being torn down for newer buildings, she hatches a plan to save her hometown from realtors. 

Okay, my description of the book doesn't capture the quirkiness that makes reading a Stephan Pastis book an adventure in joy. Saint is a great character who is relatable even in her oddness, which makes her more endearing. Her observations about life are truthful from a child's perspective. While mostly funny, the book also touches on real issues such as change and loss. The line drawings add a lot to the tone of the book. Sign me up for another one! The culture or race of the main characters is not specified. 

Michelle in the Middle

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